Fishy Seafood Labels Result in Felony and Misdemeanor Convictions

According to the Department of Justice, a Massachusetts-based fish packer
has been convicted of several criminal charges for falsely labeling packages
of frozen fish fillets. A federal jury in Boston found Stephen Delaney guilty
of a felony violation of the Lacey Act for falsely labeling $8,000 worth of
frozen pollock, a product of China, as more expensive cod loins, a product
of Canada. The jury also convicted Delaney of one misdemeanor violation for misbranding food under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; he allegedly placed into interstate commerce $203,000 worth of Chinese frozen fish fillets
falsely labeled as products of Canada, Holland, Namibia, and the United
States. Evidence at trial apparently indicated that he also changed 4 oz. labels
on some packages to 5 oz. labels. Delaney will be sentenced on June 8, 2011;
he faces up to six years in jail and up to $350,000 in fines. See Department of
Justice Press Release, April 11, 2011.